They went around the outside of the house, inspecting the building for any opening that presented a way in. “There’s nothing. They’re locked tight. Maybe the guest cottage is open,” Bree offered.
“Hasn’t that place been closed for a while?” Todd asked. “You guys haven’t had any guests stay over in some time.”
“I’ve wondered about that,” Bree stated.
“I guess they’ve wanted to keep you guys to themselves for a while and their friends have good hearts but are nosy,” Todd offered.
“Could be,” Bree acknowledged. “Amber was playing there the other day. She treats the place like one big dollhouse, so maybe it’s open.”
After meeting with another locked door, Bree turned to Todd. “I didn’t want to wake gran, but I guess I’ll have to.”
“You do have an alternative,” Todd stopped her fingers from punching the farm house’s number into her mobile.
“What?” Bree asked.
“You could stay at my place and I’ll run you home tomorrow night.”
Bree had not thought of that at all and it was not an alternative she was okay with. “That’s sweet of you, Todd, but with Amber being sick, I’d rather be close-by.”
He dipped his head in understanding, “Then dial away.”
“She’s not picking up,” Bree said minutes later. “She must be exhausted. What if Amber calls for her and she doesn’t hear?”
Noting her concern, Todd took her hand and squeezed. “Your grandmother raised you and your dad. She’s got looking after sick kids covered. Besides, I’ve heard that moms have an inner-alarm built in that alerts them to when their kids need them. That should apply to grandmothers too.”
“You’re right,” Bree acquiesced. “I’m being paranoid. Seeing how I doubt granddad would appreciate us breaking down the original farmhouse door, is the offer to bunk at your place still available?”
“With pleasure,” he responded. “And don’t worry about Amber,” he gave her hand another squeeze, “you can call her first thing in the morning and I’ll bring you back after breakfast.”
“Thanks,” Bree agreed. With her concerns about Amber placated. She realized that she’d be stuck under the same roof as Todd for the rest of the night. Heart-rate speeding up at the battle ahead to resist the tempting prospects it offered, she got into the car with an odd mix of trepidation and unwanted excitement.
xxx
Todd let Bree into his house, switching on the lights as they moved through it to the living room. He shot a glance her way, assessing her face. She hadn’t said much since they left the farm. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thanks,” she replied. “I’m okay for now.”
“If you change your mind, the kitchen’s down the hallway at the other end of the house. I should probably show you around and get you something to sleep in.”
“Thanks,” Bree repeated and followed him. They’d never spent the night together - the whole night - when they dated before. Being alone with him in his home felt odd, intimate.
When she’d been here previously, it was to pick Amber up from a play date. Amber had a few friends from school nearby and Todd was always eager to show her off. Being that it was important for Amber to form bonds with other children in her new town, Bree had agreed to the arrangement. So, she’d only ever seen the front end of the house, not daring to step into his parlor so to speak.
Now, as she followed Todd through the house, she hadn’t just stepped into the parlor, she was way inside of it and in danger of allowing herself to be devoured. She could feel the sexual tension between them, hovering in the air like an unspoken secret that everyone knew about.
Bree shifted her focus away from his well-carved behind to their surroundings. While she’d been ogling him, they’d moved down the hallway, past a dining room, home office and into a vast kitchen.
“Ooh,” Bree purred gleefully, stepping into a cook’s dream. The kitchen was large and airy. Huge windows would allow light to stream into the room during the extended summer daylight. It was fitted with every modern appliance you could think of and ample cupboards hinted that it held even more cooking wonders. “I don’t recall you being very fond of cooking.”
“When I got back after my dad died, my mom was even more internally focused,” he shrugged. “So I had to learn to cook. I figured out, that I wasn’t half bad at it and kinda enjoyed it. So, now I put out the odd dish or two.”
“Well this looks a lot more serious than the odd dish. This is practically half the size of the bottom part of the house. Was it like this when you bought the place or did you do some renovation work?”
“Nah,” he answered, “the kitchen was tiny - like the type you find on a ship or train. I figured that since I had to do it over, I might as well do it right. Build for the future.” Now, that he said that, he could picture the three of them having a family meal at the table to the one side of the room. It was modern, but still cozy. He was a guy after all. Bree and Amber would add their own touches, soften it a bit. “You guys should all come over one Sunday for a meal. I’ll do a pot roast and the works.”
“I’m impressed,” Bree said. “You said that Jack had done well earlier. To my mind, you’ve done pretty well yourself.”
“Thanks,” Todd replied, looking embarrassed. “You’ve done well too.” At her cynical look, he explained, “No really. You’ve managed to acquire a professional qualification, a job in that profession in a place that does not have an abundance of employment available and you’ve raised a beautiful girl; our daughter. I don’t think I’ve thanked you for that. So, thank you, Bree. I couldn’t be a prouder father and you’re largely to be congratulated for that.”
Enchanted by his sincerity, embarrassed by his thanks, she made a study of the nearby counter’s contents and mumbled a thank you. “I’m still ashamed of how long I took to tell you. I’m sorry for that, Todd. It’s something I’ll never forgive myself for.”
Todd walked towards her and took both her hands in his; heightening their physical awareness. “You’re both here now. That’s what counts,” he replied and leaned down to kiss her. The sexual tension they’d been carrying around exploded into an all-out lust seeking satiation. The kiss wasn’t gentle, it was all-consuming, powerful, and lips took, bruised, bit, and sucked. Filling in as much as possible and drinking in the passion offered. Drinking in her kiss, Todd backed Bree up against the kitchen wall, hands flanking but not touching her.
The icy wall jolted Bree out of the passionate fog. Gently, she put her hands against his chest, fighting the urge to rip at the material and touch that firm, hot piece of flesh, and pushed him away.
Todd looked down at her and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Bree stated in a voice laced with regret. “I just need a moment. Don’t get me wrong. That was unbelievable, better than I remembered, but it’s a bit soon. We’re moving too fast for me and I need some time, Todd.”
“You’ve been here for months, Bree.” Todd pointed out.
“Yes, but our relationship was on tentative ground then. It took a while to get into a rhythm as co-parents, and then to get along again. Now this, this has been fast, and hot. I need to cool down and think.”
Todd nodded; his head understood but the hardness in his crotch was yelling at him. “Okay, we’ll take things slow.” He leaned down and kissed her again, gently, sweetly, and with a subtle feel of yearning. “That okay?” he asked sincerely.
Bree nodded and to show that she was, she leaned up and delivered a kiss just as soft, just as sweet. “Now, show me the place upstairs Mr. Hunter.”
Todd held out his arm to indicate that she should go first and had his turn at ogling her rear as it sashayed up the stairs. He grinned wickedly; he hoped she could feel his eyes on her the way he’d felt hers searing his butt earlier. It would serve her right after the ‘go slow’ request. Darn, but he understood what she meant. He just didn’t like carrying around his lust like a
ball and chain - it was damn uncomfortable.
The upstairs comprised of two bathrooms and three bedrooms with the main bedroom boasting a balcony with a view of the surrounding mountains and evergreen trees. Bree stepped out into the icy cold night and looked up at nature’s fireworks, the Northern Lights. “That’s one thing I missed,” she pointed upwards. “There’s nothing else like it that can fill you with so much awe, give you such hope because of its beauty yet make you feel so insignificant.”
Todd thought back to the first night of her return and the similar thoughts he’d had. Taking her chin in his, he leaned down for another short kiss. “Let’s go inside, we’re not dressed for the cold out here.”
“Let me look for a toothbrush. I should have some in the bathroom cupboard. You okay with sleeping in a t-shirt?”
“That will work,” Bree replied.
Todd waved his arm towards the closet, “Help yourself.”
Bree opened the doors, pulled out the drawers, and located his t-shirts. Sifting through them, she found his high school hockey captain's shirt. With a smile, she picked it up and smelled. It smelled like fabric softener, but she could vividly remember the spicy scent of excitement that had leapt from it when she'd leaned into him after he’d won a game. Putting it back, she pulled out another and shut the drawer. Sifting through his clothes felt intimate, personal as new discoveries melded with fond memories.
Jeesh, what the hell was wrong with her? She sat down on the edge of the bed. Todd entered the room a toothbrush in one hand, clean towel in the other. He spotted her and smiled and just then, she knew what was wrong and what she had to do. “Did you find a…”
Todd’s question was cut off as she made the leap and clamped her lips on his, pulling his head down towards hers. Hard, debauched, ravenous. Fire erupted searing skin, burning through the doubts of the present, and the pain of the past. Fire consumed, stoking their passion, and flowing around them.
“I need you,” Bree said, from shy girl to vixen, she stood before him, and then pushed him back onto the bed.
Todd was speechless. A myriad of thoughts raced through his mind at once, confusing the hell out of him. Desire flamed and he didn’t give a damn. All he could see was the woman that he’d been lusting after for longer than was right for a healthy man. He had struggled to make peace that she wasn’t his anymore. Now she was standing before him with the singular mission of rocking his world. And darn it, but he’d take that and give it back. He had no intention of leaving her any other way but limp, drained, completely, and hedonistically sated.
Bree’s carnal intentions left no room for thinking. As soon as he’d thought that, she was stripping out of her clothes. Skin - loads of glorious skin, golden and tempting, just waited for his tongue, teeth, and lips. And, even that wasn’t enough. He wanted her so bad, he wished he could crawl into her skin and devour her.
Bree took her time to undress, first slipping off her shoes, cheekily tossing them to the side. Toes had never looked that delectable to him before. Letting his gaze run up from her feet to her calves, and then slowly waiting in anticipation as inch by inch, she teased the dress off and chased away the dark covering. The dress, when pulled up, revealed lace and silk. More teasing as her beautiful, bountiful breasts continued to hide behind a scrap of lingerie.
Todd swore he was as hard as concrete, and obsessed with the need to cover and claim her.
“You leave me mindless,” Todd rasped. “You’re what every man wishes they had and what I’m privileged enough to experience.”
Getting up from the bed, he kept his eyes on hers, making his intentions clear. They spoke of indulgence at the most basic, most pleasurable level. They spoke of an inferno of carnal passion. Like a predator stalking its prey, he moved towards her then not touching, let his gaze run down every inch of her delectable curves, touching her golden skin with his eyes. He allowed his gaze to move on, linger at whim, caring only for letting them feast on what he’d so long been denied.
Bree felt it, felt his hunger tease her, taunt her, and play with her. He stared at her neck and she shivered, moved his gaze to her breasts and she arched wanting more, only to have those wicked chocolate browns move swiftly away to give lighter caresses somewhere else. Moaning, she ran her hands over her body, following the trail left by his lascivious observations. The fire continued to consume them until they became the flames sprouting forth from it, flicking, playing, and dancing with each other.
Finally, after he’d returned the favor by slowly stripping his clothes off as he walked around her, he moved so that her back pressed into him. Bree felt the evidence of his desire. Rock hard against her flesh. Moaning, fantasies of it entering her, filling her drove her wild. She tried to turn and pull him down to her, but he held her fast, steady so she had no choice but to continue being subjected to his erotic torture.
“I need you, Todd. Now,” she ordered.
“No,” was all he said in response. Moving in closer, he allowed their flesh to meet so that her back was flush with his front. Grabbing her chin, he tilted her head sideways and leaned down, purposefully, slowly, not allowing their locked, heavy stares to break. Lips met, tongues danced and the flames continued to flicker and burn, searing until only flesh was left, only flesh mattered.
Bree purred, wiggling against him, returning the torture wantonly. She was a wet flame; sensuality personified and had never felt so damn sexy, so desirable before. The more they kissed, the more the sensations grew, the brighter the flame burned. Todd started caressing her and she felt alive, her skin prickling to attention under his hands. No longer flickering, the flame roared as he touched every part of her body that his long, strong arms could take into his masterful hands.
“Need it now,” she growled.
“No,” he repeated. Then he led her to the bed, allowing her to turn. Bree whimpered in relief, expecting him to fill her only to arch up from the bed as he trailed his mouth over her body, letting his tongue flick, suck, and taste. Bree didn’t think she could burn hotter, but she did as he stoked her desire until the flames burst and she cried out in pleasure.
After her release, with him still leaning above her, she wiggled, breathless, but still unsatisfied. “I need…” she began then screamed out in pleasure when he plunged into her. Finally joined, the flame burned to new heights taking them with it.
Chapter 10
They lay together in the aftermath, flat on their backs in the bed - chests heaved in search of oxygen, and bodies were paralyzed after their erotic exertion. The bedding lay strewn over the bed and tangled with clothing on the floor. The air was tinged with the spicy smell of sex.
Breathless and dripping, Todd glanced at her and asked, “What was that?”
Smiling wickedly, Bree teased, “Oh, I think you have a pretty good idea of what we just did.”
Enchanted by this confident vixen, he grinned, “Yes, I do and no, I don’t.” At her perplexed expression, he laughed and kissed her forehead. “No way can you frown after that.”
“I mean,” he explained, “what changed your mind?”
“Your hockey shirt,” she stated simply.
“My hockey shirt? The one from high school?” He heaved himself from the bed and made his way to the closet. Determinedly opening the drawer and locating his hockey shirt, he pulled it out. “This?”
“Mm…” she purred in agreement. “It’s such a turn-on.”
Shaking his head, he grinned and joined her in bed, swooping her into his arms so that they lay comfortably exhausted. “I’m never getting rid of that thing. I’m putting it into my arsenal.”
“You do that,” she chuckled.
“Seriously, though,” he prompted, “what changed your mind? Not that I’m complaining but one minute I was preparing myself to try to sleep with yet another hard on and thoughts of you and the next you became my hottest fantasy turned into reality.”
Bree turned around so that she faced him, “I honestly can’t say. It just felt ri
ght, like it was time. We’ve been circling around our attraction to each other since I came back to Devil’s Peak and it seemed nonsensical suddenly. I’m glad I jumped you though.” Bree grinned at him, trailing her fingers across his chest, loving the feel of this Todd, with ripped, masculine muscles, and the more mature physique than that of the high school boy she’d known.
“Believe me, I’m gladder than you are,” he smirked, satisfyingly.
Bree smiled up at him and a yawn slipped through. “This is comfy,” she said, turning around so that she lay spooned in his arms. He kissed her head with curved lips and snuggled into her. Within moments, they fell asleep, one hurdle of their romance crossed.
xxx
Bree awakened from a dreamless sleep, to the feel of a heavy arm trapping her. Looking at the clock next to the bed, she saw that it was still the early hours of the morning. Strange - she must’ve gotten in about two hours of sleep but felt as though she’d had a full night. She tried to stretch, but her legs were trapped, entwined in his larger, heavier ones.
“What are you doing?” Todd asked, looking at her with heavy-lidded eyes.
“I feel a bit stiff so I was trying to stretch,” she replied.
“I have a better remedy for that,” Todd stated, solemnly.
“You do?” she coyly inquired.
“Oh yes,” he moved in and kissed her then got up from the bed.
“Where are you going?” she called out as he went into the bathroom.
“Just wait and see,” he hollered back.
“Todd, you know I hate surprises. I’m too nosy to wait for them.”
“Sure I know, but you know I like giving them and you’ll like this. Trust me.”
The sound of running water and the spicy scent of bath oil filtered through from the bathroom. “Not that much of a surprise, but appreciated nonetheless. I could do with a bath. Thank you.”
Home for Love (An Adult Contemporary Romance) Page 9
